The calendar marks the spring equinox, but most of Bulgaria finds itself under snow. In Sofia, snow has mostly melted away quickly, but in parts of southern Bulgaria the situation is much worse.

It is still snowing across most of the southwestern and southern Bulgaria, with the snow cover reaching as high as 60cm in some areas in Pernik region, news agency Focus reported. Blagoevgrad and Kyustendil regions are also seeing heavy snowfalls, Focus said.

The main roads have been cleared of snow and passable, but winter tires and chains are required to pass in other areas, such as Velingrad and Peshtera, Focus said quoting the National Road Infrastructure Agency (NRIA).

A notable exception is Kyustendil region, where the continuing snowfall has slowed down traffic drastically, but the Sofia-Kyustendil road has not been closed down.

NRIA recommended that drivers avoided taking trips to the southern part of the country unless necessary, including the Rila and Rhodope mountains, Focus said.

The heavy wet snow has caused blackouts throughout southwestern Bulgaria, power distribution company CEZ has said. Snow cover of up to 65cm is impeding emergency crews from reaching all affected areas.

In Kyustendil region about 70 villages have been left without electricity, with the areas around Petrich and Simitli also affected. Bulgaria's border check-point with Macedonia at Gyueshevo has also been left without power and the long line of long-haul trucks are blocking the access of CEZ crews to the check-point, Focus said.

Bulgaria's mountain rescue service warned hikers against going out, saying that there was an increased danger of avalanches. Most mountainous areas are foggy, with strong winds recorded.